Permanent wave hair roller washer

ABSTRACT

A rotary tumbling device is used to wash and separate hair rollers from permanent wave papers. The papers are removed from the tumbling device by fluid jets and are collected on a fixed shelf.

United States Patent 1 1 Bell [111 3,814,116 4 June 4, 1 974 1 1 PERMANENT WAVE HAIR ROLLER WASHER [76] Inventor: Verna S. Bell, 6707 Concord Hill,

Louisville, Ky. 40728 22 Filed: Nov. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 304,403

[52] U.S. Cl. 134/104, 134/159 [51] Int. Cl B08b 3/06 [58] Field of Search.'.... 134/104, 153,11157, 159

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 62.930 12/1920 Dunlcleyuu 134/104 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 9/1922 stre t. 134/159X 2,733.723 2/1956 Whitcomb 134/104 X 3,083,719 4/1963 Herrling 1 134/157 3,435,835 4/1969 Hobbs 134/159 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 570,786 7/1945 Great Britain.. 134/104 11/1954 Great Britain 134/104 Primary ExamirierRobert L. Bleutge [57] 1 ABSTRACT A rotary tumbling device is used to wash and separate hair rollers from permanent wave papers. The papers are removed from the tumbling device by fluid jets and are collected on a fixed shelf.

3 Claims, Drawing Figures U. V l A 7 n, I 1

. 1 v PERMANENT WAVE HAIR ROLLER WASHER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for washing hair rollers of the type used in permanent waving, wherein a number of strands of hair are wrapped in a small permanent wave paper which in turn is rolled around the hair roller. 1

One of the less desirable tasks in a beauty shop is that of washing permanent wave rollers. Generally when these rollers are removed from the hair the permanent wave curler papers clingto them. The papers must then be pulled off or removed from the curlers one, or a few at a time, by hand, before the curlers can be washed. For this reason it is common practice to have a large supply of curlers or hair rollers, to be washed at some later time. By then the permanent wave papershave dried, stiffened, and have generally become even more stuck to the rollers. The chore of washingpermanent wave rollers thus is even more undesirable-There is, therefore, a need for an apparatus, which carries out this operation.

Washers'for eggs and other articles are the subject of such US. Pat: Nos. as 2-,966,l 59, 3 ,03 1,363 and 2,770, l 23. However, the pieces of apparatus described in those patents do not provide a means for separating Y the permanent wave papers from the hair rollers being washed. In accordance with this invention an apparatus is provided which does include means for separating permanent wave papers from the hair rollers.

SUMMARY OF'THE INVENTION A permanent wave hair curler washer is provided herein for automatically washing hair rollers while concommitantly separating permanent wave papers there- Hair rollers to be tumbled within the tumbler are inserted through an opening in the tumbler. A paper collecting shelf is rigidly mounted inside the hair roller tumbler, to lie eccentrically within the tumbler, and a wash chamber is adapted to encase the bottom of the hair roller tumbler so that the lower portion of the tumbler is submerged in wash solution. Means, are provided to bring about the rotation of the tumbler. As it rotates, the wash solution enters the tumbler through the perforations in its wall. On rotation of the tumbler to jumble the rollers in the wash solution, permanent wave papers separate from the rollers and adhere to the inside tumbler wall. Fluid dispensing jets are directed toward the outside perforated tumbler wall surface above the paper collecting shelf to dislodge permanent wave papers from the inside tumbler surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A The undesirable job of separating permanent wave papers from their hair rollers in order to wash them has gone unsolved for years. There is no suitable apparatus available for the accomplishment of this operation. Washer-separators now available do not lend themselves to the removal of permanent wave papers from the wash solution while the rollers are being cleansed. By the apparatus of this invention the papers are removed to a shelf during washing.

This" and other advantages of the invention will be better understood from a more detailed-explanation of the invention, in which it is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view of one form of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another form of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of still another form of the invention. 1

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the apparatus 2 is provided with a cleansing or wash tank 4 having side walls 6 and 8, front wall 10 and rear wall 12. A baffle 11 is spaced from side wall 8 and is preferably, although not necessarily, parallel thereto. The ends of baffle 11 are integral with the front and rear tank walls. Bottom 14, and these walls, carry the other elements of the apparatus. Generally, bottom 14extendsbeyond tank 4 to form a chassis or baseplate 16 upon which other parts of the apparatusiare mounted as will be described. 1

Transversely across tank 4 is a perforated, hollow,

washer drum 20 which is carried by a hollow-shaft 22. The shaft is joumaled in suitable bearings in bafile l1 and in side wall 6. One end of shaft 22 extends beyond the tank in order to carry driven-pulley wheel 24 to be described shortly. The washer drum is provided with a door 26 hinged at 27 through which rollers are inserted and from which rollers and permanent wave papers are withdrawn. Suitable latch means 28 holds the door closed during rotation of the washer drum.

As understood, there has been thus far described a hollow, perforated tumbler or drum having its lower portion partially surrounded or encased by the cleaning tank or wash water chamber 4, for rotation within said tank about a horizontal axis. Turning now to the inside of thedrum (FIG. 2), a stationary permanent wave paper collecting shelf 34 is rigidly mounted to lie within the hair roller tumbler. Desirably, paper collecting shelf 34 is attached to immovable or fixed inner shaft 36 locked in place by means of hub 38.'Curler tumbler hollow drive shaft 22 thus slideably surrounds stationary shaft 36 as drive shaft 22 passes through baffle l1 and side wall 6. It may be preferred to provide a shield such as deflection shield 40 to extend upwardly from collecting shelf 34 to prevent permanent wave curler papers from falling back into roller tumbler 20. Paper collecting shelf 34 and deflection shield 40 preferably, though not necessarily, are also perforated to allow washing solution to drip easily back into the bottom of the roller tumbler.

Permanent wave paper collecting shelf 34 can be on either side of stationary shaft 36, or it can extend across the top of the shaft. However, considering the rotation of the inside wall of roller tumbler 20, it is preferred to position the shelf on the down side rather that the up side relative to the inside roller tumbler wall. Rotation of roller tumblers 20 as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 is thus counterclockwise.

Spaced from permanent wave paper shelf 34 and carried outside roller tumbler 20 is a header 42. This header through solenoid valve 43 is mounted on the wash solution chamber so as to extend along the side of tumbler 20 for about its full length. Nozzles or orifices 44 incorporated in header 42 are spaced there- 3 across,being so disposed that fluid forced threrthrough is directed through the holes in drum 20, and toward stationary shelf 34 therein.

Roller tumbler is locked on tubular drive axle22 by bolts in plate 23. The tumbler drive axle also carries pulley wheel 24 or a ratchet wheel in the case of a chain drive. Roller tumbler 20 is carried in suitable bearings 46 mounted in bafile 11 and side wall 6. Drive means, such as drive wheel 51 of motor 50, secured to base plate 16, is coupled to pulley wheel 24 by belt 52. An energizing circuit or battery and switch means, not shown, will be used todrive-the motor thus'bringing about the rotation of roller-tumbler 20.

, In operation, hair rollers which have been used in permanent waves, with permanent wave papers wrapped around them, or otherwise adhering-thereto,

are inserted in tumbler 20 through door 26 which is then closed-.Through one or more timing circuits solenoid valve 43 and motor 50 are energized. Through drive wheel 51, belt 52, and driven wheel 24, motor 50 rotates roller tumbler 20. Concommitantly solenoid valve 43 opens, admitting awash solution such as water or a water detergent mixture from line 45. Permanent wave hair rollers begin to .tumble in thebottom of tumbler' 20 while at the same time receiving some of the spray from header 42. As intr'oductionof wash solution continues, wash'chamber or tank 4 begins to fill, entering the bottom portion of tumbler 20 through its perforated wall. The tumbler is thus partially submerged in wash solution, curlers therein also being submerged unless they are of the type which float. As the hair rollers are tumbled, washed, and agitated in the wash solution, permanent wave papers become separated from the rollers. Few by few the permanent wave papers cling to the inside tumbler wall. They arethen lifted out of the wash solution as the tumbler rotates and carried in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 2. When thepaperson the inside tumbler wall reach the point designated x in FIG. 2 the impingement of spray from nozzles 44 in header 42 drives the papers off of the interior tumbler surface. The permanent wave papers are driven, or fall, onto shelf 34. Shield40 prevents papers from fallingback into the washing zone. As the rotation of tumbler 20 and'the agitating action therein continue, virtually all of the permanent wave papers are ultimately lifted out by the drum and driven onto the stationary shelf. Float 56 then shuts off the unit, wash solution flowing out through drain 58. Since the agitation in the wash chamber wouldaffect the operation of the float, baffle 11 having holes 13 therethrough forms a separate float zone apart from the remainder of the wash chamber. 1

Means other than float 56 can be used to eliminate baffle 11. In this case the apparatus will appear as shown in'FIG. 3. It will also be appreciated that tumbler 20 need not be cylindrical. It canhave a square cross section as show-n in FIG. 3, or any other polygonal cross section desired. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is also provided with a side drain rather than a bottom one.

An especially desirable form of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. One of the advantages of this embodiment is that there is no need to open and close a door when loading and unloading the tumbler. Tank 100 is shown as a cylinder having a drain in the back, not seen. Legs 102 tilt the front of the tank upwardly so prising: a chassis; a hollow hair roller washing unit 4 that the rear end holds wash solution at a level such that the rear end of tumbler 104 is submerged.

Tumbler 104 ha's'a square'cross section similar to that shown in FIG. 3. The tumbler base is provided with drive means, including drive wheel 106, belt 108 and motor 110. The motor is mounted on the outside of tank 100, and when energized this motor effects the rotation of tumbler 104. Permanent wave curler papers adhere to the tumbler inside walls as has been described, and are dislodged by jet sprays 114, being caught on shelf112. Jets 114 are mounted on header 116 through which wash water, air or other fluid is forced to impinge upon the, outside surface of tumbler 104. Because of the perforate or screen-like fabrication the spray passes through the tumbler knocking adhering curler papers onto shelf 112, curlers having previously fallen to the bottom of tumbler 104.

. Another advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that it is easier to remove curler papers from shelf 112. Secured longitudinally along the bottom of shelf 112 is tube'118. This tube fits over stationary rod 120 which is integral with tank 100. Shelf 112 can thus be withdrawn for cleaning and for removal of permanent wave curler papers by sliding it outwardly off of rod 120.The outside bottom or base of tumbler 104 is provided with a sleeve integral withthe tumbler and also slideable over rod 120. It is this sleeve which carries drive wheel 106. Tumbler 104 is thus rotated by drive wheel 106 acting through a sleeve journaled on rod 120. During rotation the tumbler operates as has been described to carry permanent wave papers to the point of impingement of spray through jets 114.

Having been given the teachings of this invention variousother modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. As an example the inside of'the roller tumbler canbe provided'with a rough surface or prongs to aid in picking up permanent wave papers. In addition instead of a float one or more additional timing circuits including rinse cycles can be'employed. Soaping and rinsing cycles can be included in the design. It is also possible to use a spherical or other shaped drum in lieu of a cylindrical or square drum. Moreover, the apparatus can be made with a base to stand on a shelf, with legs, or with a cabinet to hold permanent wave supplies. Air can also be used'to dislodge the permanent wave papers from the inside drum surface, wash solution being otherwise introduced. An advantage of using air is that air can be admitted through a bottom line such as line in FIG. 4. The washed curlers with papers removed can be tumbled in this air stream to dry them. Such ramifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and' hence they are deemed to be within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed. is:

l. A permanent wave hair curler washer for automatically washing hair rollerswhile Concommitantly separating permanent wave'curler papers therefrom commounted for rotation on said chassis, said washing unit having a sufficient number of circumferentially spaced orifices through its wall to form a perforated rotating tumbler; an opening through which hair rollers to be washed can be inserted within said tumbler; a paper collecting shelf rigidly mounted inside the hair roller tumbler to lie eccentrically within the tumbler; a wash chamber adapted to encase the lower portion of the hair roller tumbler, and adapted to hold wash solution so that the lower portion of the tumbler is submerged in the solution, said wash solution entering the tumbler through the perforations therein; means for admitting wash solution to the wash chamber; means for rotating the tumbler to jumble the rollers in the wash solution, separating permanent wave papers therefrom, the papers adhering to the inside tumbler wall during tumbler rotation; means for holding the paper collecting shelf stationary during tumbler rotation; fluid dispensing jets directed toward the outside perforated tumbler wall surface to dislodge permanent wave papers from the inside tumbler surface; and means positioning said fluid dispensing jets so that papers dislodged thereby are directed onto said collecting shelf.

2. The'curler washer of claim 1 wherein the hollow hair roller washing unit is a cylindrical tumbler mounted on the chassis for rotation about a horizontal and wherein the meansfor rotating the drum are joined to said closed end. 

1. A permanent wave hair curler washer for automatically washing hair rollers while concommitantly separating permanent wave curler papers therefrom comprising: a chassis; a hollow hair roller washing unit mounted for rotation on said chassis, said washing unit having a sufficient number of circumferentially spaced orifices through its wall to form a perforated rotating tumbler; an opening through which hair rollers to be washed can be inserted within said tumbler; a paper collecting shelf rigidly mounted inside the hair roller tumbler to lie eccentrically within the tumbler; a wash chamber adapted to encase the lower portion of the hair roller tumbler, and adapted to hold wash solution so that the lower portion of the tumbler is submerged in the solution, said wash solution entering the tumbler through the perforations therein; means for admitting wash solution to the wash chamber; means for rotating the tumbler to jumble the rollers in the wash solution, separating permanent wave papers therefrom, the papers adhering to the inside tumbler wall during tumbler rotation; means for holding the paper collecting shelf stationary during tumbler rotation; fluid dispensing jets directed toward the outside perforated tumbler wall surface to dislodge permanent wave papers from the inside tumbler surface; and means positioning said fluid dispensing jets so that papers dislodged thereby are directed onto said collecting shelf.
 2. The curler washer of claim 1 wherein the hollow hair roller washing unit is a cylindrical tumbler mounted on the chassis for rotation about a horizontal axis, and wherein a door is provided in the wall of said tumbler through which hair rollers can be inserted to be tumbled therewithin.
 3. The curler washer of claim 1 wherein the hollow hair roller washing unit is an angularly disposed open-ended drum mounted with its closed end downwardly, and wherein the means for rotating the drum are joined to said closed end. 